Winds Take Bite Out Of Heat Wave

June 7, 1985|By Steven Girardi, Staff Writer

South Florida once again escaped the brunt of a persistent, weeklong heat wave that continued to sear northern and central parts of the state Thursday.

``It`s abating somewhat. We still have some heat. We just don`t have record- breaking heat,`` said Noel Risnychok, a National Weather Service forecaster in Coral Gables. ``We`re still getting east, southeast winds (off the ocean) that are moderating our temperatures a bit.``

The weekend should offer more of the same through Sunday. Skies will be sunny, highs will be in the upper 80s, near 90 inland, and there is little chance of rain, Risnychok said.

On Thursday, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood peaked at 88 degrees, well below the record 94 degrees for the day in Fort Lauderdale, Risnychok said.

``It cooled off somewhat, if you can call 88 degrees cool,`` he said.

The mercury climbed to 90 at Miami International Airport, the hottest for the day in South Florida, he said.

But the high pressure ridge that brought three straight days of record- breaking temperatures to the area earlier this week continued its assault on most of Florida. No relief was expected for at least two more days.

The weather service extended the heat health alert issued Monday, leaving out only the eastern coastal areas south of Daytona Beach, where a welcome sea breeze has taken the fire out of the heat wave.

At least seven cities broke or tied temperature records for the day on Thursday.

Live Oak, a small town between Gainesville and Jacksonville, was the hot spot in the state with a record-breaking 106 degrees, the weather service said.

For the second straight day, Tallahassee sweltered with a record 103 degrees, marking the fourth straight day the state capital has been hit with 100-degree temperatures.

Tampa, at 98 degrees, broke a record for the second consecutive day, and Pensacola steamed under a record 100 degrees. Fort Myers, 98, and Jacksonville, 99, tied record highs for the day.

Two deaths in Jacksonville have been blamed on the heat, which settled over the state on Sunday.